Introduction

If, in the 1950s, you had asked someone whether change was unusual – a disruption to the everyday routine – the chances are that they would have said ‘yes’. During the 1950s people talked about ‘having a steady job’, and many jobs followed a predictable routine. Of course, changes did take place – organizations moved premises, people were promoted, new product lines were introduced and so on. But these could be identified as departures from the ‘normal’ established pattern, to which everyone would return as soon as possible.